Farrakhan: America is on its deathbed

Nation of Islam leader addresses the faithful at annual Saviours' Day celebration.

February 27, 2012

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan alternately defended and derided President Barack Obama during the group’s annual Saviours’ Day speech at Chicago’s United Center on Sunday.

Farrakhan challenged Obama’s recent statements that America is back on track.

“Mr. President, if America is not in decline, why is our government and state governments selling off the assets that belong to the government and American people?” Farrakhan said.

But Farrakhan also took Republicans to task who have disseminated racist material about Obama. On a projector, Farrakhan highlighted images that have depicted Obama as a Nazi and a chimpanzee. The minister also read passages from people who have called for the president’s assassination.

“Never has a sitting president been spoken of in the manner that President Obama and his family have had to endure,” Farrakhan said. “Not just by the birthers and right-wing zealots but those in high places – people with great influence have spoken against him in a manner that has never been according to even the worst of America’s white presidents.”

But Farrakhan said Obama is being pressured to destroy him.

“They want our president to deal with me and Iran and that would make the ‘synagogue of Satan’ happy,” Farrakhan said. He then warned that Obama may be a target for assassination.

Farrakhan’s speech was entitled 'What will 2012 bring to America, the World, Black and Oppressed People.' Saviours’ Day marks the birth of Nation of Islam founder W. Fard Muhammad. Farrakhan spoke for several hours to a crowd of thousands.

Farrakhan also delved into foreign policy. A staunch supporter and friend of Libya’s former leader Muammar Qaddafi — who was killed by rebels last fall — Farrakhan questioned Middle East policies as several countries bubble with tumult.

“Documents have surfaced that reveal the so-called Arab Spring didn’t start in the Muslim world,” Farrakhan said. “It started from plans in the United States to take over the Middle East, its natural resources for the Western World. But their Arab Spring is not going the way they originally intended and it is now turned into a harsh Arab Winter.”

Farrakhan also put forth the theory that the Sept. 11 attacks were not orchestrated by Muslims but were an inside job orchestrated by the U.S. government.